The last half of the Tribulation begins when the
Antichrist and the False prophet after failing to
destroy Israel, then begin to persecute the offspring of
Israel, both Jews and believers in Christ (Revelation
12:17).

After
Temple worship is stopped (Daniel 9;27), the Two
Witnesses killed (Revelation 11:8),The Antichrist
installs an image of himself in the Jewish Temple, the
Abomination of Desolation (Matthew 24:15), the whole
earth is forced to choose between life and death, Satan
or Christ. The Antichrist proclaims himself god and
demands worship from the earth.

Satan uses lying signs to deceive the world,
the False Prophet calls down fire from the sky as
evidence of the power of the Antichrist (Revelation
13:13), who is incarnated by Satan at the start of thelast half of the tribulation. He forces the
world to worship him, both his person and image. True
believers in Christ refuse; as a result, they are taken
captive, and killed for their faith (Revelation
13:9-10). The false prophet then sets up an economic
system to sort out true followers of the Beast
(Antichrist) from others. He sets up a system causing
all who are true followers to receive a mark, 666.

1. The
Antichrist and his kingdom (Revelation 13)

The
identity of the Antichrist and his kingdom has always
been a point of speculation by bible students. Scripture
does give us clues to his identity and his kingdom. In
the books of Daniel and Revelation, we get the most
clues about his identity and kingdom. Daniel clearly
links his person and identity with the Roman Empire, by
linking him with the Romans armies which destroyed
Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D. 70, calling him “The
prince who is to come” (Daniel 9:26-27). Daniel informs
us he will be a descendent of these armies.

From scripture, we know his kingdom will be at the start
of the tribulation, a friend of Israel. He will in
Israel’s benefit, allow the Temple rebuilt at the
expense of the Islamic world on the Temple Mount, the 3rd
most spot for Islam. Another aspect of his kingdom will
be military might, he will be able to enforce his
agreement with world for Israel’s benefit. His kingdom
will be a united kingdom of ten nations, who turn over
their power for just such a time. (Revelation 17:12,
Daniel 7:24)

The ten horns which you saw are ten kings
who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive
authority for one hour as kings with the beast.
Revelation 17:12

Using these qualifiers, we can establish several
important points about this coming world leader and his
kingdom.

ØHe will be a descendent of the Roman Armies who
destroyed
Jerusalem

ØHe will be pro-Israel at the start of the
tribulation

ØHe will lead a powerful military kingdom

ØHis kingdom will be united from 10 nations

ØHis kingdom will be anti-Islamic, allowing the Jews
to rebuild the Temple

One
can only speculate with this information and current
circumstances in the world. The world today is frozen
by the possibility of nuclear war and terrorism. Many
Islamic fundamentalist groups relish the thought of one
day causing the western and non-Islamic nations to
fall. Nuclear terror in the US
or Europe, killing thousands or even millions would
change the world. Such an event could easily turn the
world against Islam, allowing the Temple
to be rebuilt as a form of punishment.

If the
Rapture occurred before the tribulation, removing “True”
Christians, those “Left Behind” might look for political
and economic security through military power and
strength. Such an attitude could cause the most
powerful nation the world has ever known, the United
States and European nations to unite for the purpose of
world preservation and security. With a combined
military and economy, the United States and Europe
united, would easily be able to dominate an insecure
world.

They
would just need someone who would be accepted by both
parties, who could lead the world forward. This person
would be the Antichrist, called the Beast in Revelation
13 or the “Little Horn” in Daniel 7.

2.
The False Religious system (Revelation 17)

First
half

Following the rapture (Pre-tribulation) before the
tribulation period starts, the Antichrist attempt to
establish peace on the earth with the using the
religious systems in the world. John sees this false
religious system as harlot riding on the back of the
Beast (Revelation 17)

1
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls
came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come, I will
show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on
many waters, 2 "with whom the kings of the earth
committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth
were made drunk with the wine of her fornication." 3 So
he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness.
And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was
full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten
horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet,
and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls,
having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and
the filthiness of her fornication
Revelation 17:1-4

.
Following the conflicts between Islam and Israel
and the building of the Jewish Temple (Daniel 9:27), the rapture of Christians (I Thes.
4:13-16), the world is in a spiritual chaos. The False
Prophet attempts to solve this problem of religious
diversity and conflict by uniting the world under one
system, uniting both Christianity and Islam under one
religious system, eliminating fundamentalist in both
camps. Today many compare radical fundamentalist
Muslims with “Born again” Christians, claiming they are
identical.

Many
see a combined religious system as a solution to much of
the earth’s dilemmas. Under the banner of security,
those who refuse to become part of the state religion
will be eliminated from the population (Revelation
6:9-11).

Second
half

In
the second half of the tribulation events change, the
False Prophet now causes all to turn from the unified
state religious system. He has surviving humanity
worship the Beast and his image (The Antichrist),
incarnated by Satan. An image of the Beast is set up in
the Temple, and the earth is commanded to worship his
person and image. Revelation pictures the False
prophet with two horns like a lamb. Horns represent
points of authority and the lamb is a picture of Christ
mentioned throughout revelation. These two horns, like a
lamb could represent Islam and apostate Christianity.
This unified religious system exists in the first half.

11 Then
I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and
he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a
dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the
first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and
those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose
deadly wound was healed.Revelation 13:11-12

The Beast and Prophet destroy the religious system in
the 2nd half, who replace it with worship of
Satan, in the person of Antichrist. All those refusing
to submit to this change are destroyed. The united kings
who unite their kingdom to the Antichrist hate the
religious system and seek its destruction.

16
"And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these
will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat
her flesh and burn her with fire. Revelation 17:16

3. God warns humanity (Revelation 14)

The
situation for humanity at this point seems doomed.
Those who have survived to this point, now being forced
to worship Satan, must submit, if they want to live.
Most Christians, have died, or will be killed if they
reject the Beast, what choice does somebody have? At
this point God super-naturally intervenes on surviving
humanity.

2.
The second angel warns about the coming destruction of
“Babylon” who has corrupted the earth. (Revelation 14:8)

3.
The third angel finally warns humanity to reject the
mark and not worship the Beast or his image.

He then warns what those who worship the Beast can
expect for the rest of eternity (Revelation 14:9-11).

He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence
of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11
"And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and
ever; and they have no rest day or night, who
worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives
the mark of his name." Revelation 14:10b-11

Humanity warned super-naturally by these three angels,
everyone whose name is in Heaven (the saved) reject the
Beast when forced to receive the Mark, 666, and worship
the Beast and his image. Listening to the angels, they
choose death and Heaven. People at this point choose
death or attempt to hide. Through death, God is
separating his people from Satan’s people.

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write:
'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'
" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their
labors, and their works follow them." Revelation 14:13

4.
Martyrs in Heaven (Revelation 15)

John in the book of Revelation, following the warning to the
earth by the three angels, sees the results of their
work. He sees a people in heaven who rejected the image
and mark of the Beast. Killed on earth, they stand in
Heaven before the throne of God. (Daniel 7:25)

7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to
overcome them. And authority was given him over every
tribe, tongue, and nation.9 If anyone has an ear, let
him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into
captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed
with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of
the saints. Revelation 13:7,9-10

2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire,
and those who have the victory over the beast, over his
image and over his mark and over the number of his name,
standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
Revelation 15:2

With many of God’s people killed on earth, but living in
Heaven, God is free to pour out His wrath on those who
persecuted and killed His people. John now sees seven
angels emerge from the Temple
in Heaven with seven bowls, filled with the wrath of
God.

5. God
pours out his wrath (Revelation 16)

The
Antichrist and False Prophet and their minions search
out survivors on the earth, forcing humanity to make a
choice between Satan and the God of Heaven. People who
want to live, choose Satan by receiving the mark, those
who choose Christ, choose death if caught. Seven
angels, who emerge from the Temple
in Heaven, now have the seven-bowls of God’s final
wrath. When the angels pour out their bowls, the earth
experiences the wrath of God.

The
Bowl Judgments

1.
“foul and loathsome sore”Those
on earth who choose Satan, now are the first to
experience the wrath of God. The Mark, which seemed to
offer life now offers pain and suffering, and foretaste
of eternal suffering. When the first angel poured his
bowl those who choose the mark experience pain and agony
as the mark becomes puss oozing sore(Revelation 16:2).

2.“sea, and it became blood as of a dead man”
During the trumpet judgments 1/3 of the sea turned to
blood and 1/3 of the creatures died. Now all of the
oceans turn to blood and all the creatures in the sea
die. With the death of life in the sea, a major source
of food and supplies eliminates a major source of food
for those on earth. Those who worship nature and called
the earth “Mother” must acknowledge the Earth is subject
to God. (Revelation 16:3) This happens when the second
angel pours his bowl.

3
“rivers and springs of water, and they became blood”When the third angel pours his bowl, the drinking waters
become poisoned and become blood (Revelation 16:5-7).
This was God’s retribution for the blood of martyrs
killed by the Beast and his system. God is cutting off
access to survival forcing those on the earth to
battle.

4.
“men were scorched with great heat” The
fourth angel pours out his bowl on the Sun, heat from
the sun now scorches those on earth. The lost on the
earth, react by blaspheming the God of Heaven, rather
then crying out for mercy (Revelation 16:8-9). Here the
true character of the lost is demonstrated as man
chooses to raise a fist at God rather then cry out for
mercy. Man repeats his blasphemies following the 5th
and 7th bowl judgments demonstrating their
lost and unredeemable state.

5.
“his kingdom became full of darkness” When
the 5th angel pours out his bowl the throne
or capital city, “New Babylon” is cast into darkness.
Those who sought refuge from the judgments in the
capital of the Antichrist’s kingdom face a gloomy
darkness. The darkness is a taste of their eternity. In
pain, humanity again blasphemes the God of Heaven.
(Revelation 16:10-11)

6.
“Euphrates, and its water was dried up”
The 6th angel pours his bowl and the
Euphrates river is dried up in preparation of the “Kings
of the East”, to gather the nations and the world, to
Armageddon, north of Jerusalem. In Israel
the remnant of Israel who escaped when the Antichrist
entered the Temple,
The Abomination of Desolation are still in hiding. The
nations now being gathered, place their last hope, to
prevent their judgment by destroying Israel.

Satan’s demonic forces gather the warriors of the
nations, the weak and strong, hoping to prevent God’s
judgment by Israel’s destruction.

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of
the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast,
and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they
are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to
the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather
them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Revelation 16:13-14

7.
“earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the
earth” As
humanity gathers toward Israel, an earthquake unequaled
in the history of humanity levels the cities of the
earth. This quake causes any of the reluctant in the
cities to join the massive movement of surviving
humanity, to gather them toward Armageddon.

The sea
of humanity gathering is then pelted with hale stones
weighing a talent, about 120 pounds, again humanity
curses the God of Heaven in their anger. (Revelation
16:17-21) They will soon mourn the coming of Christ, as
He comes to judge them in glory and power.

6.
Marriage of the Lamb (Revelation 19:1-9)

While those on the earth gather for battle with Jesus Christ,
He is in heaven with the saints both Old and New
Testament, those who were raptured before the
tribulation (Pre-tribulation) and those killed during
tribulation. The redeemed saints are presented as the
bride of Christ[1],
dressed in the clothes of redemption, prepared to enter
Earth with Christ at the end of the Tribulation period.

7.
Armies of the Earth gather to Israel

While
the saints are in Heaven preparing to return with
Christ, the armies of the earth gather toward
Jerusalem, inspired and led by Satan, the Antichrist and
False prophet who have deceived the nations.

Joel writes about this day as the nations gather.

9 Proclaim this among the nations: "Prepare for war!
Wake up the mighty men, Let all the men of war draw
near, Let them come up. 10 Beat your plowshares into
swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak
say, 'I am strong.' " 11 Assemble and come, all you
nations, And gather together all around. Cause Your
mighty ones to go down there, O Lord. 12 "Let the
nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of
Jehoshaphat; For there I will sit to judge all the
surrounding nations. 13 Put in the sickle, for the
harvest is ripe. Come, go down; For the winepress is
full, The vats overflow-For their wickedness is great."
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of
decision. 15 The sun and moon will grow dark, And the
stars will diminish their brightness. 16 The Lord also
will roar from Zion,
And utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and
earth will shake; But the Lord will be a shelter for
His people, And the strength of the children of Israel.Joel 3:9-16

8.
Israel calls out to Messiah

As
the armies of the Earth gather, Israel
finally realizes the rejected Messiah of Isaiah 53 and
Daniel 9:26, Jesus Christ, is their only hope as the
nations gather. Israel now calls out to Jesus Christ
with a heart of supplication and repentance,
acknowledging their errors in their rejection. Jesus
warned Israel in Matthew 23:39, they would not see Him
again until they acknowledged Him as their Messiah.

Over 500 years before the birth of Jesus Christ,
Zechariah wrote about his second coming, this future
event when Israel
would turn to the Messiah “they pierced” and rejected at
His first coming.

9 "It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all
the nations that come against
Jerusalem. 10 "And I will pour on the house of David and on the
inhabitants of Jerusalem
the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will
look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will
mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and
grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. Zechariah
12:9-10

Joel pictures Israel
heart of preparation for the Messiah over 600 years
before the birth of Christ.

15 Blow
the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred
assembly; 16 Gather the people, Sanctify the
congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children
and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his
chamber, And the bride from her dressing room.27 Then
you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel:
I am the Lord your God And there is no other. My people
shall never be put to shame. Joel 2:15-16,27

9.
Jesus the rejected messiah returns with saints and
angels

With
the wedding and the supper of the Lamb complete, the
Lamb prepares to return with his bride to the earth.
John sees Christ seated on a white horse along with the
rest of the redeemed on white horses wearing the
clothing of the Redeemed.

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He
who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in
righteousness He judges and makes war.14 And the armies
in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,
followed Him on white horses. Revelation 19:11,14

As the armies of the earth gather along the land of
Israel, to the hills of Megiddo, they prepare for battle
against God Almighty, deceived by Satan, Antichrist (The
Beast) and the False Prophet. Surviving Israel
calls out for redemption and salvation to Christ. Its
at this point of national conversion, Christ comes to
the rescue of a repentant Israel.

Zechariah describes the battle 500 years before
the birth of Christ, as armies of the nations literally
melt at Christ return. And blood pours throughout Israel
as high as a horses bridle (Revelation 14:20)

12 And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will
strike all the people who fought against
Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand
on their feet, Their eyes shall dissolve in their
sockets, And their tongues shall dissolve in their
mouths. Zechariah 14:12

Christ takes the Antichrist and False Prophet and
throws them into the Lake of
Fire (Revelation 19;20). They become its first
occupants, and the rest of the lost will join them
following the Great White Throne Judgment, which takes
place at the close of the Millennium (Revelation
20:10-15). Satan is bound for 1000-years during the
Millennium, unable to tempt the nations (Revelation
20:3). Birds are called to feast on the rotting corpses
of humanity killed at Christ return (Revelation
19:17-18)

10.
Saints rule and reign with Christ in the Millennium

Christ establishes His throne on Earth with His saints.
The angels now gather the survivors on the earth before
Christ throne. Those who survive the tribulation must
stand before the throne of Christ. Angels gather the
nations, both the saved and un-saved. The angels gather
believers Jesus Christ who are in hiding, as well as the
lost to stand before Christ’s throne. Jesus describes
the event in terms of a Shepard dividing the sheep and
the goats. The goats are the lost, who survived the
tribulation, the sheep are the saved believers who also
survived. (Zechariah 12:9-10)

31 "When
the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy
angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His
glory. 32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him,
and He will separate them one from another, as a
shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 "And He
will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on
the left. Matthew 25:31-33

Those
on the left, those who rejected Christ in the
tribulation will enter Hell prepared for the Devil and
his angels (Matthew 25:41). Those on the right of
Christ, including Israel who escaped into the wilderness
following the Abomination of Desolation, will enter the
Millennium. They are the ones who will repopulate the
earth after its devastation from God’s
wrath.

The resurrected saints including Old and New Testament,
and those who died in the Tribulation, will rule and
reign with Christ 1000-years as the population of the
earth multiplies in the Millennium.

Tribulation saints: In
Revelation a promise is made to those who die rejecting
the Beast and his kingdom. They will rule and reign
with Christ for 1000-years in their resurrected body.

4 And I
saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was
committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had
been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the
word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his
image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads
or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with
Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4

Church
Saints: Jesus makes a specific promise to the disciples about their
role in the Millennium. They will be responsible to
judge the tribes of Israel
in the resurrection or regeneration.

So Jesus
said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the
regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of
His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on
twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19:28

Old
Testament Saints: Like the tribulation and New Testament saints, the saints of
the Old Testament such as David, Daniel and Jeremiah are
each promised positions of authority in the age to come.
David will rule over Israel,
as their resurrected Prince.

But they shall serve the Lord their God, And David their
king, Whom I will raise up for them.
Jeremiah 30:9

[1] The Bride of Christ has
various interpretations on who is included in
this event. Some include only the church from
Pentecost to the Rapture as part of the Bride,
with Old Testament and Tribulation saints as
invited guest who witness the wedding of the
Lamb to the Church. Others would include the
Redeemed of the Old Testament and Tribulation as
part of the Bride of Christ at this point.